Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-23

another too common"
And so the spring and summer came
and faded away, and fall was fast
emerging into winter; and the people
were growing weary of their search.
and longed for settled pastor, but he
still eluded them. AS old Mr.. Grove
aptly summed up the situation: 'We've
had close to a hundred men here to
preach for us, and we've given 'em all
a fair show, and there hain't been a
perfect man among EN-"
At length. when expectation was
well-nigh exhausted, cheering ray
penetrated the gloom of their despond-
ency, and in their minds eye they
could see as their own established pas
tor. the brilliant young preacher who
was holding audiences spell-bound in
Western city. A delegation was dis
patched to treat with him. He had
] graciously consented to consider the
matter, and the whole situation was as
encouraging as it well could be. He
| was to preach for them on trial the
| first Sunday in December, and on the
Saturday evening previous Deacon
| Gilsey and his wife were returning
from a days shopping in Chicago.
Just as the cars were starting, MIR.
Ames, another pillar in the church,
hurried in, and seeing Mr.. and Mrs.
| Gilkey dropped into the seat behind
| them, the other half of which was &C.
cupied by strange gentleman IN
| fur-trimmed overcoat and sealskin
| cap.
"Getting chilly" remarked Mr.. Ames
| to Mr.. Gilkey, as an introduction to
conversation, meanwhile buttoning up
/ his overcoat. The remark recalled the
fact to Mr.. Gilkey, and he buttoned up
his coat and replied:
Eyes; looks little like storm"
Should've WONDER" said Mr.. Ames.
They've had five inches of snow up
| north"
as that so? They have pretty tough
winters up there" and Mr.. Gilkey gave
his coat-collar another jerk.
Suppose you'll be out to church to-
morrow" said Mr.. Ames.
Eyes, presume so,' assented Mr..
Gilkey. and Mrs. Gilkey said, Eyes,
certainly" with glance at the band
box at her feet, which suggested the
idea that Chicago milliner had made
assurance doubly sure'' in her case.
| But, of course, suggested no such
thought to Mir. Ames, who observed:
81 guess people will turn out pretty
| generally to hear our new man."
''They ought to- said Mr.. Gilkey,
'.for he seems to be about our last
chance, and say we'd better take him
if he suits any kind of way"
ave might as well shut up the church
if we don't get some one before long,"
said Mr.. Ames, gloomily. There was
not bakers dozen out last Sunday.
and the Halls and McAllisters have
given up their pews. Hal. says he
won't pay pew-rent for the sort of
preaching we've had lately"
at needn't make any difference to
him what kind of preaching we have;
he's never there" remarked Mrs.
Gilkey, severely.
"What does DR.. Williams have to say
| about this Mr.. Grant that's going to
preach tomorrow inquired Mr..
| Gilkey.
"He won't take any stand at all, -"
said Mr.. Ames, ''says it's none of his
funeral who they get. He's put out
because they wouldn't call that Mr..
Otjin; but we never could have made
that thing work.
'He preached good sermons" said
Mr.. Gilkey, refectively.
.'He talked through his nose,'' said
Mrs. Gilkey, conclusively.
"Then the Whites" said Mr.. Ames
They want that Eastern man, with the
| Whites wife. The West End are all
united on that man from Washington.
And DR.. Glover's got man down
South that he's trying to run in this
long time" MI. Ames paused for
breath, and Mrs. Gilkey took up the
burden of his complaint.
Yes" she said, land the Georges
say they won't vote for anybody but
that Mr.. Paine, from Ohio. He stayed
with them while he was here, and they
say he is just as agreeable and enter
| tanning as can be. You'd never sus-
pect he was 4 minister"
AT this stage, Mr.. Ames, happening
to look up suddenly, surprised an
amused smile on the face of the strang-
er who shared his seat.
Il beg your PARDON" said that gem
| tleman in answer to Mr.. Ames' stare,
81 could not help overhearing your
conversation"
NO harm DONE" return .d Mr.
Ames, affably. "We're pretty much
interested in getting the right sort of a
| s. l.
keeps the thing going, you see." He
ratified, significantly, some coins in his
pocket, and the stranger intimated that
he saw.
isn't it the general opinion that